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Utica University
Students studying Therpaeutic Recreation use painting as a therapy process.

Therapeutic Recreation

  1. Academics
  2. Our Programs
  3. Therapeutic Recreation

About This Program

You’re energetic and feel happiest when you’re on the move. You thrive helping others achieve their goals. You’re a people person. Therapeutic recreation may be for you.

Why Utica University

Therapeutic recreation (TR), also known as recreation therapy (RT), is the use of recreation,  leisure, and play to improve or maintain physical, cognitive, social, and emotional functioning to assist individuals in experiencing independent lifestyles and satisfying leisure experiences.

The certificate in therapeutic recreation provides students with skills and knowledge in assessing, developing and implementing individualized intervention programs, and utilizing facilitation techniques in a range of modalities for clients with medical and disabling conditions disorders, and impairments. These abilities support learning in other health science majors and prepare students for work in a variety of human service professions.  

Contact Information

Office of Admissions

(315) 792-3006
admiss@utica.edu

Kirstin Walker

Department Chair
(315) 792-3250
kfwalker@utica.edu

General Information

Track

  • Undergraduate Certificate

Degree

  • Certificate

Location

  • Utica Campus
Get More Info
Apply Now
Utica Excellence, Utica Value

Therapeutic Recreation at Utica

Recreational therapists will increasingly be utilized in helping veterans manage service-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or injuries such as the loss of a limb.

Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor

Median annual pay for recreational therapists in NYS

$63,210

Estimated job growth

4%

Career Opportunities

Therapeutic Recreation work is found in a variety of fields, including:
    • Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Hospitals
    • Mental/Behavioral Health
    • Youth Programs and Aging Populations
    • Corrections
    • Residential Care for people with developmental disabilities
    • Community-based programs for people with and without disabilities
Rising Arrow Job Outlook 364x200

On the Rise

Employment of recreational therapists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What You'll Learn

Students in the Therapeutic Recreation certificate program at Utica University will: 

  • develop competence to individually screen, assess, and systematically collect client data, develop individualized intervention plans, and utilize relevant documentation to track client  progress toward attaining goals. 
  • develop competence in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based therapeutic recreation intervention programs that identify functional outcome goals,  modalities, and facilitation techniques used to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate client functioning and lead to the utilization and enhancement of an independent leisure lifestyle.
  • acquire specific skills with and knowledge of facilitation techniques in a range of modalities used as interventions for clients with medical and disabling conditions, disorders, and impairments affecting their physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and leisure functioning across the lifespan.  
Full Therapeutic Recreation Curriculum and Learning Objectives
A young woman in a hooded sweatshirt and vest kayaking on the water.

Therapeutic Recreation Faculty

Kirstin Walker in TR Lab 0389
Kirstin Walker, M.S.Ed., CTRS
  • Associate Professor of Therapeutic Recreation

A Program That Works

Alumni of Utica University's Therapeutic Recreation program work in physical medicine and rehabilitation, mental/behavioral health, nursing homes and other programs serving older adults, residential care for people with developmental disabilities, youth programs, as well as community based programs for people with and without disabilities.

Some TR alumni have taken leadership positions at:

  • The Root Farm (Sauquoit, NY)
  • St. Luke's Home (Utica, NY)
  • Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center
  • Masonic Care Community (Utica, NY)
  • Upstate Cerebral Palsy
  • St. Lawrence NYSARC
  • MaineHealth
  • Beckwith Health Care (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Bergen Regional Medical Center (Paramus, NJ)
May 2018 Campus Spring Scenics 005
Seal for National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.

National Certification

The six required courses in the certificate meet the criteria for specific therapeutic recreation content required by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation  Certification (NCTRC) to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), but do not include all of the NCTRC requirements to become a CTRS.  

Loretta Plescia 06 - Recreational Therapy

Essential Care

Beyond the physical toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emotional effects can be devastating to those who already struggle with mental health issues. How Recreational Therapist Loretta Plescia ’06 is helped young people cope as the crisis unfolded.

Read More
Student Voices Olivia CunninghamPlay Video

Helping Others

A visit with Olivia Cunningham and how the opportunity to help others drew her to the therapeutic recreation program.

Jessica Leclerc

Official Success

In February 2018, Jessica Leclerc ’09 was one of only four American women (19 women total) to officiate the women’s ice hockey tournament during the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The Maine native, former Utica University hockey captain, and graduate of Utica’s Therapeutic Recreation program has been officiating since she was 12.

Read More

Happening at Utica University

Utica University
Student

Utica University Announces Spring 2025 High Honors and Dean’s List

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Stephanie Nesbitt today announced the Utica University Spring 2025 semester High Honors...
Emeritus group
Faculty

Four Professors Elevated to Emeritus Status

The Board of Trustees conferred emeritus status upon Hossein Behforooz, professor of mathematics; John Cormican, professor of English, David Chanatry, distinguished professor of journalism; and Carl Dziekan, professor of accounting and construction management.
Professor McCarthy receives 2025 Crisafulli Award
Faculty

Associate Professor Michael McCarthy awarded 2025 Virgil Crisafulli Distinguished Teaching Award

Associate Professor of Data Science Dr. Michael McCarthy was awarded the coveted Virgil Crisafulli Distinguished Teaching Award at the university’s 2025 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.
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